View Full Version : Has anyone ever made a...
OurManInTangier
11-19-2007, 02:22
...book through Blurb books? I believe they're in cahoots with Flickr.
I'm thinking about making a some books as a decent way of leaving portfolios with people. Has anybody had a book made with these guys that can comment on the quality of their final product, actual shipping times and costs or maybe another company that you have used that did a particularly good...or even bad, job.
Thanks
I haven`t made it but have bought the book from Tommy Oshima " Magnetic Fields". The book quality is very good and the ordering process was simple. Delivering was very fast, too. I thought about making a photo book my own, using blurbs software (freeware)
cheers,
maddoc
Saw a thread on Blurb on Photo.Net.
Just curious why you only wrote:
"Has anyone ever made a... "
on your subject line instead of:
"Has anyone ever made a book through Blurb books?"
When people scroll the new posts they only see subject lines and I'd guess more than a few people who either are interesting in discussing your subject, had something to add, or knew something about online publishing or blurb likely just passed by the more generic version with little info.
Just curious why you only wrote:
"Has anyone ever made a... "
on your subject line instead of:
"Has anyone ever made a book through Blurb books?"
To get hits.
To get hits.
Interesting theory. Maybe it works. I usually ignore subject lines that give no clue what they're about. Too many posts other posts to bother. I looked at this one as I found his user name interesting...
Interesting theory. Maybe it works. I usually ignore subject lines that give no clue what they're about. Too many posts other posts to bother. I looked at this one as I found his user name interesting...
I'm going to start ignoring any post titles I don't fully understand, too. On another forum there was once a bragging contest to see who had the most "views". the ego-factor associated with people looking at their posts seemed more important to them than accurate/polite interactions and real information seeking. I doubt that is the situation here, but I was "teased" into looking and will try to avoid any future occurances. "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice...." :)
OurManInTangier
11-19-2007, 07:52
Just curious why you only wrote:
"Has anyone ever made a... "
on your subject line instead of:
"Has anyone ever made a book through Blurb books?"
When people scroll the new posts they only see subject lines and I'd guess more than a few people who either are interesting in discussing your subject, had something to add, or knew something about online publishing or blurb likely just passed by the more generic version with little info.
Simply a case of thinking it wouldn't all fit on and then the 'system' would arbitrarily cut off part of the title. As a result it is a bit of a teaser and yes they are annoying when you click on one to find you're not remotely interested, so apologies to all for that.
The interest is genuine, as is my complete lack of interest in 'hits' - though it sometimes seems similar in the gallery with people 'collecting' comments!
My original question stands - I'd be delighted to hear any opinions on Blurb's quality or any other recommened company. Its one of the downfalls of such a company being internet based - you just have no idea of print quality/paper quality etc etc.
Hi Simon,
I was not berating you, just mentioning.
Dig down a little into this guy's blog. He did some major experimenting lately on a few different services and has some good details on his results. Especially if you plan mostly B&W, which is a huge problem for these self-publishing houses....
http://beckermanphoto.com/
shadowfox
11-19-2007, 08:12
Simon, there's nothing wrong with your title, no apologies necessary.
Rich, relax, take it easy... :)
And, blurb is quite good. I made a book for my daughter's birtday and I'm impressed with the quality.
They are supposed to come out with the new version of the software, I've been thinking to upgrade just to see what they have.
On a negative note, it seems that their renderer ignores colorspace information embedded in the jpg files. I'm going to give them a hard time if this were true with their printers.
Hi Simon,
I was not berating you, just mentioning.
Me neither, Simon!
OurManInTangier
11-19-2007, 08:34
Hi Simon,
I was not berating you, just mentioning.
Dig down a little into this guy's blog. He did some major experimenting lately on a few different services and has some good details on his results. Especially if you plan mostly B&W, which is a huge problem for these self-publishing houses....
http://beckermanphoto.com/
No problem, but it is still a good point...it is rather irritating.
Thanks for the link, I'll take a look at his findings this evening.
And, blurb is quite good. I made a book for my daughter's birthday and I'm impressed with the quality.
They are supposed to come out with the new version of the software, I've been thinking to upgrade just to see what they have.
On a negative note, it seems that their renderer ignores colorspace information embedded in the jpg files. I'm going to give them a hard time if this were true with their printers.
I downloaded the upgrade recently, though I haven't gone through things properly yet as I'm currently rescanning many of the images I'm planning to put in it...a right royal pain in the arse in itself!
This will be black and white images only so hopefully not too many problems but I do worry about my screen calibration and how that will compare to the final prints. I don't fancy coughing up for the book and shipping to find horribly pale or extremely dark images on each page. I simply don't have enough quality colour images to go down the colour book route yet.
Me neither, Simon!
As with Richard, honestly - no offence taken:)
mtbbrian
11-19-2007, 14:46
I have some of my photographs in a Blurb book, Generations By Salt Lake Seven (http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/96778).
The was a part of a group exhibit I was a part of recently, we did the book as a way to continue with the project/exhibit.
We call ourselves, The Salt Lake Seven (http://www.saltlakeseven.com)
I didn't put the book together, someone else from the group did, but I have a copy of course and I feel that it's a great book.
The print quality is great.
Since the book has come out, I have played with the software and I like what I have seen.
It's the only self publish site I have dealt with, but there is also www.lulu.com (http://www.lulu.com).
And yes Blurb is a partner of Yahoo or something to that effect, so if you have high res files uploaded it can be easier to produce a book.
Good Luck! Brian
OurManInTangier
11-19-2007, 15:59
I like the fact that everyone that has seen a Blurb book here seems to be, at least, happy with the quality.
I think once I get my negs satisfactorily prepared I'll get a book printed.
I like the fact that everyone that has seen a Blurb book here seems to be, at least, happy with the quality.
I think once I get my negs satisfactorily prepared I'll get a book printed.
Guess you didn't check out, or if you did, dig too deep on that link I showed you...
Here:
http://beckermanphoto.com/category/pod-books/
Out of five publishers he tried he liked Blurb the least ("In short, I’d cross Blurb off the list.") I'd read through his comments about Blurb before you order.
OurManInTangier
11-19-2007, 16:40
Guess you didn't check out, or if you did, dig too deep on that link I showed you...
Here:
http://beckermanphoto.com/category/pod-books/
Out of five publishers he tried he liked Blurb the least ("In short, I’d cross Blurb off the list.") I'd read through his comments about Blurb before you order.
Still haven't had the chance...I'm doing some photoshopping for some work thats needed tomorrow but keep popping on here too much! Almost done and will certainly have a look now. Shame, had hoped everything would be rosey!
Still haven't had the chance...I'm doing some photoshopping for some work thats needed tomorrow but keep popping on here too much! Almost done and will certainly have a look now. Shame, had hoped everything would be rosey!
Yeah, I keep popping on here too when work needs to get done!
Of course it does sound like some people are pleased with Blurb but sometimes that might be a lack of comparison to other services or critical examination---and to each his own too. In that link Dave really went deep in comparison study and took some excellent notes. His concerns definitely warrant a look-see so you can determine if they are valid issues you might have a problem with as well.
OurManInTangier
11-19-2007, 16:53
I'm done for the night workwise so I'm back for the link, let's see what he has to say.
OurManInTangier
11-19-2007, 17:23
BUGGER!
It sounds like Blurb aren't "all that." This is exactly why I felt compelled to ask around for more info on them. I really appreciate the link to that.
I suppose to be fair its just another case of 'horses for courses' but I really don't want to invest a great deal of time and thought on getting the selection, processing, scanning and page layout just right simply to receive a sub-standard ( at least by my expectations ) product.
I don't particularly fancy paying $295 for the one off Pro Membership ( at SharedINK) until I've at least decided whether I'll actually get some repeat use from it. I think this deserves some further research and maybe the small expense of a trial book with a couple of POD book firms - SharedINK certainly being one of them.
As the chap says in his blog, you simply have no idea of what quality the book is until you hold it in your hand. Mine will be no Magnum Magnum but I can at least make the effort;)
Please report back, Simon. We have a RFF book #2 that we're looking for a printing company for. The effort through LULU did not work out well, because of a magenta cast on the B+W photos.
Haven't made a book but would love to. Found this page after reading the blog above mentioned. Glowing accolades, etc. Thought others might be interested.
http://www.naturephotographers.net/articles0405/mh0405-1.html
OurManInTangier
11-19-2007, 18:13
Haven't made a book but would love to. Found this page after reading the blog above mentioned. Glowing accolades, etc. Thought others might be interested.
http://www.naturephotographers.net/articles0405/mh0405-1.html
I've had a bit of a sniff around myself in the half hour or so I've been away from this and there are snippets from people all over the web about SharedInk being very good. I''ll read your find tomorrow - it's gone 2am and I have to be up in under four hours - and try and post a few other comments.
Please report back, Simon. We have a RFF book #2 that we're looking for a printing company for. The effort through LULU did not work out well, because of a magenta cast on the B+W photos.
I'll certainly post my impressions on the subject when I receive my comparison sample booklets...though I need to finish scanning the images first! A top quality RFF book would be excellent - though I can only imagine the trouble around organising and selecting the images for that, I'm struggling with just mine!
John Rountree
11-19-2007, 19:56
I would like to find a good on line publisher. But, this topic has to be addressed in terms of color reproduction and black and white reproduction. Comments about both are necessary.
jan normandale
11-19-2007, 20:34
Interesting theory. Maybe it works. I usually ignore subject lines that give no clue what they're about. Too many posts other posts to bother. I looked at this one as I found his user name interesting...
me too... I know Simon's photography and that's the only reason I'm here now.
I've had a bit of a sniff around myself in the half hour or so I've been away from this and there are snippets from people all over the web about SharedInk being very good. I''ll read your find tomorrow - it's gone 2am and I have to be up in under four hours - and try and post a few other comments.
I'll certainly post my impressions on the subject when I receive my comparison sample booklets...though I need to finish scanning the images first! A top quality RFF book would be excellent - though I can only imagine the trouble around organising and selecting the images for that, I'm struggling with just mine!
It's already done and ready to send to publishing! I believe JoeFriday (Brett) has the files.
At the start of this thread, Maddoc talks about having ordered one of Tommy Oshima's books from Blurb. I was actually with Tommy during a recent exhibition and he had all his books there. My comments are that on the surface the books are probably passable for many people. However, in comparison to the custom prints that were at his exhibition there was a big and noticeable difference in the reproduction.
OurManInTangier
11-20-2007, 05:42
It's already done and ready to send to publishing! I believe JoeFriday (Brett) has the files.
That's the hard bit done then! Congratulations to Brett as I imagine it was a mammoth task. I assume these books are for sale on RFF when produced? Is there a link to some kind of list of work from the various contributors...it would be interesting to know what differing forms of photography and people have submitted their work. I look forward to seeing such an interesting project completed.
OurManInTangier
11-20-2007, 05:48
At the start of this thread, Maddoc talks about having ordered one of Tommy Oshima's books from Blurb. I was actually with Tommy during a recent exhibition and he had all his books there. My comments are that on the surface the books are probably passable for many people. However, in comparison to the custom prints that were at his exhibition there was a big and noticeable difference in the reproduction.
I wouldn't like to do an injustice to Blurb, I imagine many people are happy to have a nice book to show family and friends whilst others wish to sell or use them as portfolios, if the latter is the case I for one would rather invest in undeniable quality otherwise you're in danger of being seen to be doing only half a job.
I'm unaware of Tommy Oshima's work but I'm sure he's either happy with the production values for his target audience or he will find a firm that can produce to his desired specifications.
shadowfox
11-20-2007, 07:37
I wouldn't like to do an injustice to Blurb, I imagine many people are happy to have a nice book to show family and friends whilst others wish to sell or use them as portfolios, if the latter is the case I for one would rather invest in undeniable quality otherwise you're in danger of being seen to be doing only half a job.
I'm unaware of Tommy Oshima's work but I'm sure he's either happy with the production values for his target audience or he will find a firm that can produce to his desired specifications.
The thing is, Simon, it only costs you about $49 to have a copy of proof done. That plus the time you took to put them together (you'd have to spend it anyway).
My daughter's book has a lot of black and white pictures in it and I do not detect any color cast. It's good. Slightly dark, but good.
If you are not happy, then you resume your search for a better one, but I think it's at least worth the experience in layout, content, and you have a proof to compare with.
TIP: I find out that with any printing, I have to increase the brightness of my pictures, otherwise it'll be darker. Some of them just right, others are too dark.
OurManInTangier
11-20-2007, 08:31
The thing is, Simon, it only costs you about $49 to have a copy of proof done. That plus the time you took to put them together (you'd have to spend it anyway).
My daughter's book has a lot of black and white pictures in it and I do not detect any color cast. It's good. Slightly dark, but good.
If you are not happy, then you resume your search for a better one, but I think it's at least worth the experience in layout, content, and you have a proof to compare with.
TIP: I find out that with any printing, I have to increase the brightness of my pictures, otherwise it'll be darker. Some of them just right, others are too dark.
I'm planning to get a proof done with blurb...and one done with SharedInk. As you say its worth the money to find out, experience is good for the soul be it good or bad and I'll have something that family and friends would think is wonderful. It would also give me a base on which to compare others.
I know what you mean about having to lighten images for printing too - it costs a bomb in paper and ink to get my black & whites right on paper....colour seems fine though!
I looked at the various links above and decided to give Blurb a try.
The book should be shipped Friday next (7 December) so I don't have it yet to give any specific impressions but I will once I see the thing.
I didn't choose any of the more expensive printers--Blurb seemed to be a good compromise between price and production values.
My standards are admittedly faqirly low, I'm not going to use these as promotional books and I don't expect to sell very many but if the one I have coming looks at least as good as my copy of the 2nd RFF book does, then I'll have my xmas shopping done!
I did find the software a bit limiting with the premade layouts but did find one that I can live with. And since I don't have the $ or time to invest in "serious" desktop publishing software, this was for me the better choice.
Rob
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